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on’t blame it all on technology.

Television, video games and the Internet may have led children away from reading books, but experts say that parents still have the authority to control the “digital charms” that possess their children.

Technology is not solely to blame when children play online games instead of reading books, said Reading Bugs Community founder Rossie Setiawan.

According to Reading Bugs, a child’s passion for reading starts with encouragement from parents.

“If parents love to read books, children will likely enjoy books as well,” Rossie said, adding that sustaining reading as a hobby is the next challenge.

“Parents must set their own family guidelines to make sure reading habits are nurtured,” she said.

“It requires discipline from the entire household,” 33-year-old housewife Sadini Zuhartinah said.

Sadini, a mother of two, has imposed strict limitations on her children’s access to computer games and television.

“This rule must be strictly enforced, by everyone, including our household helpers,” she said.

A similar system has been applied by 31-year-old architect Indri Juwono, who allows her daughter fifteen minutes a day to play computer games.

“She already knows the rule, even though she is only four,” Indri said.

Parents should also try to entertain their children by reading in hopes that their love for literature may grow by itself, and not by force.

“I read to my children every night,” Indri said, adding that the habit has proved effective in improving her daughter’s interest in books.

“Now she is the one who asks to be read a story, and she always asks for new books when we go shopping,” Indri adds.

Rossie points out that children are never too young to learn from books.

“You can start reading to them while they are still in the womb. They may not understand, but they know how to differentiate sounds,” Rossie said.

Another thing that makes books interesting is reading with gestures and expressions, she added.

“This will eventually inspire children to read,” Rossie said.

Making reading a part of a family’s daily routine is a good way to improve a child’s reading habits, Indonesian Reading Forum program manager Dessy Sekar Chamdi said.

“Just put books near the children and they will open them and explore what’s within,” Dessy said, adding that giving books as an incentive can also boost a child’s love for books.

The best encouragement parents can provide is to lead by example by reading to their kids.

“You don’t have to buy books. You can borrow them from libraries,” Dessy said.

This has worked for Indri, who regularly reads to her daughter.

“She becomes curious. She snatches my books and asks me to read to her,” Indri says.

The saying “like mother like daughter” may be very true.

Jakarta will celebrate “Children Reading Day” on Aug. 24.